Total Signs First Global Agreement with IndustriALL Global Union

22/01/2015

News

Paris - Total strengthens its commitment as a responsible employer by signing a global agreement today with international union federation IndustriALL Global Union, which represents more than 50 million workers in 140 countries in the energy, mining and manufacturing sectors.

Signed in Davos, Switzerland by Patrick Pouyanné, Chief Executive Officer of Total, and Jyrki Raina, General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, in the presence of Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization, the agreement covers:

The promotion of human rights in the workplace and diversity, with specific commitments concerning gender equality.

The involvement of employees and their representatives in conducting social dialogue and in developing social dialogue.

Workplace health and safety. These are absolute priorities for everyone in the extended corporate community, and in selecting service providers and suppliers, Total focuses sharply on their ability to comply with its workplace health and safety policy.

Insurance coverage.

Measures to anticipate and support changes within the Group’s organization.

Corporate Social Responsibility, as Total develops its operations in harmony with the surrounding communities.

“I am pleased to sign this first agreement with IndustriALL Global Union, which is designed to extend the Group's tradition of corporate social responsibility to all of our operations around the world through quality social dialogue and insurance coverage for employees,” declared Patrick Pouyanné, Chief Executive Officer of Total.

In practical terms, Total is developing an insurance program that guarantees a minimum of two years of coverage in the event of an employee's death, no matter what the country of residence. To give another example, maternity leave will not have a negative impact on an employee’s compensation or future career path.

A committee made up of members from Total and IndustriALL will meet annually to ensure that the agreement has been implemented and to identify and promote best practices.

“We applaud Total for its commitment to better rights and conditions for workers. IndustriALL’s agreement with Total makes it clear that trade union rights and freedoms must be upheld across the company’s operations and throughout its global supply chain. Total promises to act in strict neutrality in its relations with unions and is prepared to terminate contracts with suppliers if they breach the agreement. It sends a strong message to Total’s suppliers and provides new levels of protection for workers”, said Jyrki Raina, General Secretary IndustriALL Global Union.

“I am pleased to witness the signature of this agreement between Total and IndustriALL Global Union, an organization that represents millions of workers around the world and that contributes extensively to the fight for better working conditions and for the respect of labor union rights. Companies such as Total have a major role to play in promoting decent working conditions in their host countries and in ensuring that their employees benefit from tangible measures to improve their worklife,” noted Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization.

Today’s signature marks a new step in the development of social dialogue at Total, notably in terms of transnational negotiating processes, which began in Europe some ten years ago.

The monitoring committee will hold its first annual meeting in the first half of 2016.